Abstract

Y-ME National Breast Cancer's Organization, founded in 1978, is not-for-profit organization with a mission to “To assure through information, empowerment, and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone.” Each year, Y-ME's 24×7×365 Breast Cancer Hotline receives approximately 40,000 contacts. Callers to Y-ME's toll-free Hotline are referred by clinicians, community groups and global cancer organizations that recognize the importance of providing emotional relief to patients and their loved ones. Trained and certified peer counselors, all breast cancer survivors, staff the hotline. Callers can speak to a Spanish or English speaking peer counselor or have an interpreter in any of over 150 languages added to the line.

An online survey conducted by Whitman Insight Strategies on behalf of the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization was conducted to better understand the psychosocial needs of breast cancer patients and survivors. Surveys were conducted on April 3–5, 2012, among 400 breast cancer patients and survivors 18 years of age and older across the United States. The margin of error for total sample is ±4.9% at the 95% confidence interval. Respondents received an email invite to participate in a short online survey; their emails were selected at random among online market research panelists who had previously indicated that they have or had breast cancer.

The results indicate that talking to a breast cancer survivor can be instrumental in overcoming breast cancer: 84% of breast cancer patients and survivors say this is one of the most important ways of coping with breast cancer and 68% wish that they could have been connected to other survivors. Access to a 24×7×365 hotline, where breast cancer survivors provide emotional support and practical advice, is considered important by virtually all women surveyed (95%)–73% think this is “extremely” or “very” important. Unfortunately, although Y-ME provides such a hotline; however, awareness of it is extremely low (14%). We encourage all healthcare providers to encourage patients to reach our to Y-ME by calling 800–221-2141 and time of the day or night.

Those who had another survivor to talk were asked to select among a number of relevant responses to the question: What did talking to another breast cancer patient/survivor provide you with? The following table provides the proportion that selected each response.